Ayre Acoustics DX-7 manual

Ayre DX-7 Owner’s Manual DVD Transport with Progressive Video TITLE DVD CHP A y r e[...]

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Table of Contents Welcome to Ayre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Connections and Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Setup and Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Controls and Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Optimization and Customization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [...]

Welcome to Ayre Please send in your warranty registration card so we can stay in contact with you. Your Ayre DX-7 offers a significant advance in the video and audio performance of film reproduction equipment. The excitement and dimensionality of your favorite films are apparent from the first viewing. The combination of superb resolution and a nat[...]

Connections and Installation The Ayre DX-7 is a DVD transport with digital audio outputs, requiring connection to an audio processor. It is easy to hook up and use. The following guidelines will ensure that the installation goes smoothly. Location The infrared beam of the remote control will also travel through glass. A good location for your DVD p[...]

processors. Analog display devices utilizing CRTs normally achieve their highest performance when using an analog video output from the DX-7. The various analog output options are listed below in order of performance, from highest to lowest. Choose the highest performing connection that is compatible with your video display. DVI There are two toggl[...]

this situation it is usually preferable to use an analog component connection rather than the DVI connection. This is because the digital-to-analog conversion in the Ayre DX-7 will perform at a higher level than the corresponding conversion in the display device. If in doubt about which connection to use, simply make a visual comparison to determin[...]

Please consult the owner’s manual for your display device to determine which connections are supported. S-Video There are two toggle switches on the rear panel that configure both the S-video and composite signals. Please refer to the section “Setup and Configuration”. The S-video analog interface provides a good level of performance. The bri[...]

The SyncroLink interface automatically detects when a compatible SyncroLink device has been connected. Digital Audio Outputs An adapter is available from Ayre should you need to connect one of the AES/EBU digital outputs with an XLR connector to an S/PDIF input that uses an RCA connector. The Ayre DX-7 features two digital audio outputs. Both are A[...]

Setup and Configuration Once you have connected the Ayre DX-7 to your home theater system, you will need to configure it to ensure compatibility. There are two separate configuration steps – the video hardware configuration using small toggle switches on the rear of the unit, and the software configuration using an on-screen Setup Navigator. Perf[...]

You only need to configure the switches that apply to the connection(s) you are using. DVI Configuration All display devices with a DVI input support the RGB format for the DVI connection. “RGB” is the normal setting that should be used for DVI in most situations. A few displays also support the YCbCr format allowed by the HDMI specification, w[...]

input, set the level switch to the position labeled “0 - 255”. Component Configuration You must first determine what input signals are supported by your display device. Please refer to the owner’s manual for your display for information. If your display supports progressive inputs, this will provide significantly higher picture quality than a[...]

S-Video and Composite Configuration The S-video and composite outputs only output interlaced signals. There are different standards for these signals in different parts of the world. The switch marked “0%” and “7.5%” controls whether the black level is changed by adding setup to the NTSC signals. PAL signals are unaffected by the setting of[...]

Connect the video output of the DX-7 to your video display. With the power turned on, press the “Setup” button located on the lower portion of the remote control. The “Setup” button in the top left corner of the remote is only used to customize the remote control’s programming (page 15). Use the cursor buttons on the remote control to nav[...]

TV Type Select which type of video display you are using. The “Widescreen” setting is for modern displays with an aspect ratio of 16:9, while the “Standard” setting is for conventional displays with an aspect ratio of 4:3. Digital Jack This screen allows you to specify the types of digital audio signals that are sent to your audio processor[...]

96 kHz PCM Audio A few DVDs have a high resolution soundtrack using 96 kHz PCM. If your audio processor is capable of accepting 96 kHz PCM audio data, select “Yes”. Select “No” if your audio processor is not capable of accepting 96 kHz PCM audio data. If you are not sure, select “Don’t Know”. Exit Setup Navigator This screen allows yo[...]

Controls and Operation The front panel display brightness function is only available at the front panel. The Ayre DX-7 DVD transport may be controlled using either the front panel buttons or the included remote control. Basic functions are available at both locations, and many additional functions are available only at the remote control. This chap[...]

16 Angle Subtitle Audio Step Light Repeat Random Rpt A-B Program Setup Search PWR VOL CH CBL AUX VCR TV SA T CD AMP TNR MUTE ENTER LAST SLEEP INPUT GUIDE EXIT INFO MENU S E T U P SELECT 12 3 4 5 6 7 89 0 A y r e Toggles between “Standby” and “Operate” mode (page 19). For remote control customization only (page 15). Select device to control [...]

17 TITLE DVD VCD CONDITION TOT AL REMAIN LAST MEMO TRK CHP DOLBY DIGIT AL GUI “CD” lights when an audio CD is loaded. “VCD” lights when a Video CD is loaded. Indicates that multiple camera angles are available. Indicates that the title number of a DVD is being displayed. Indicates that the track number of a CD is being displayed. indicates [...]

keypad, or by downloading custom configurations from your PC with an optional cable. See the separate remote control owner’s manual for additional information. The remote control is factory programmed so that when the “Aux” button is pressed it will operate the Ayre DX-7, when the “CD” button is pressed it will operate an Ayre CD player, [...]

Basic Functions These basic functions apply to all discs, including CDs, DVDs, and Video CDs. Standby/Operate The “Standby/Operate” button toggles the unit between normal operation and standby mode. When in standby mode a green status LED in the display window is illuminated, and all internal circuitry remains powered. This ensures optimal perf[...]

Play Pressing the “Play” button initiates playback of the disc. If the drawer is open, pressing “Play” will also close the drawer. Pause Pressing the “Pause” button will pause the disc playback. Playback may be resumed either by pressing the “Pause” button again or the “Play” button. Stop Pressing the “Stop” button will stop[...]

Additional presses will move to previous chapters or tracks. Please note that the “CH-” button on the remote control corresponds to the “Previous” function on the DX-7. Next Pressing the “Next” button will move to the start of the next chapter (DVD) or track (CD). Additional presses will move to subsequent chapters or tracks. Please not[...]

Display Brightness The front panel display of the DX-7 has three brightness settings, plus an “Off” position. Pressing the front panel “Display Brightness” button will scroll through the four choices. A blue LED next to the display illuminates when the display is turned off. When the display is off, pressing any key will illuminate the disp[...]

Menu The on-screen menus found on nearly all DVDs will normally automatically display upon loading the disc. Anytime you wish to return to the disc menu, press the “Menu” button on the remote control. Number Buttons The number buttons are used to directly input numeric values, as well as enter numbers for direct title and chapter (track for CDs[...]

Return Function When you are using on-screen menus, the “Return” function allows you to go back one menu level. When you are using the On-Screen Setup Menus (page 49), changes to the system settings will not be saved. Please note that the “Exit” button on the remote control corresponds to the “Return” function on the DX-7. Audio Most DV[...]

display using the on-screen setup menus (page 56), or you can scroll through the available subtitle choices, or turn the subtitles off completely, using the “Subtitle” button on the remote control. Pressing the “Subtitle” button once displays the current setting. Additional presses will scroll through the available choices. One way to turn [...]

To exit the “Repeat” mode, either press the “Repeat” button to scroll through the modes, or simply press the “Sleep” button, which activates the “Clear” function (page 45). Random Pressing the “Random” button will play the tracks (chapters on a DVD) in random order. When playing a DVD, pressing the “Random” button twice will[...]

Optimization and Customization The Ayre DX-7 offers many advanced features, especially when playing DVDs. DVDs from Around the World There are times when you may wish to play DVDs from other countries. In this situation there are two items that must be considered – whether the video standards match between the disc and your video display, and reg[...]

player will output a PAL signal. However, many video displays will only accept one type of signal and not the other. In order to view DVDs using a different video standard, your display must be capable of accepting both types of signals. In general, most plasma displays and front projectors will accept both video standards, while most direct-view C[...]

(Region Coding Enhancement) discs. The Ayre DX-7 can also play these, although you may need to set the region manually. When the player queries these RCE discs, they tell the player that they are from all regions. The player then cannot adjust itself automatically to the correct region. The disc then queries the player to see if the player’s regi[...]

system’s ground connection that contaminates the signals. If you are using multiple video displays, you may wish to disconnect the auxiliary displays when critically viewing the main display. Please note that turning the auxiliary displays into Standby mode is not helpful in this regard, as the switching power supplies are still operating even wh[...]

Command Functions The DX-7 may either be controlled by the remote control via a receiver on the front panel or by a system controller via the Control Port. A small toggle switch on the rear panel selects which mode is active. For normal use, set this switch to “IR Receiver”. Set the switch to “Control Port” only when using a custom programm[...]

SyncroLink Configuration The SyncroLink digital audio link can be configured to match the capabilities of your SyncroLink-equipped audio processor. If your processor can decode compressed digital audio formats such as Dolby Digital and DTS, set the rear panel configuration switch to “SL Comp”. If your processor is only capable of decoding PCM d[...]

About Aspect Ratios The term aspect ratio simply refers to the ratio of an objects’s width to its height. Nonetheless there is some room for confusion, as both the video display itself and the picture stored on a disc have an aspect ratio. Most viewers prefer to see the film in its original aspect ratio, which preserves the director’s intention[...]

aspect ratios of films are usually normalized to one. To make comparisons between video displays and films easier, the ratios for displays can also be normalized to one. Hence 16:9 becomes 1.78:1 and 4:3 becomes 1.33:1. Aspect Ratios of Films Nearly all films made from the 1920s through the early 1950s used an aspect ratio of 1.37:1. To compete aga[...]

Widescreen Displays Let’s start with a widescreen movie shot in 1.85:1 and viewed on a 1.78:1 widescreen video display. In this case virtually the entire image can be seen with no adjustments required. The film is presented in the same way as in a movie theater. If we want to now watch a standard movie shot in 1.37:1, we run into a problem. The n[...]

Standard Displays When watching a standard (1.37:1) film on a standard (1.33:1) display, we can see virtually the full image without adjustments. Again, the film is presented in the same way as it would be in a movie theater. However if we watch a widescreen (1.85:1) film, we have a new problem. The picture will be distorted as the wide image is sq[...]

Very Wide Films Many films are made with aspect ratios even wider than 1.85:1, such as 2.35:1. Even on a widescreen (1.78:1) video display these films would be distorted if they were simply allowed to fill the screen. Instead thin black bars are added to the top and bottom of the image on the disc itself when the transfer from film to video is made[...]

widescreen or standard displays, pan and scan discs will work in the same way as standard 1.37:1 films. Letterboxed Discs Since all DVD players can convert a widescreen disc to display properly on a standard video display, there is no technical reason to make a letterboxed disc. However in the early days of DVD, movie studios were selling to a much[...]

Advanced Features The Ayre DX-7 also has many advanced features. These functions are more complex to use, but can be useful for the advanced user. Slow Play Function While the unit is playing, press and hold one of the “Step” buttons to engage slow playback. While there is only one reverse playback speed, the forward playback speed can be adjus[...]

Search You may quickly find a specific location on the disc by using the “Search” function. Pressing the “Search” button on the remote control scrolls through the choices of searching by title, chapter (track for CD), or time. Enter the desired location using the number buttons, and then press “Play”. When in “Search” mode, the “+[...]

To cancel repeat play or clear the specified location, press the “Sleep” button to activate the “Clear” function. Program To play only specific titles, chapters, or tracks in a specific order, use the “Program” function. In addition, up to 24 programs for DVDs may be saved in memory for later use. The “Program” function is especiall[...]

To delete a number in the program, use the cursor buttons to highlight the incorrect number. Then press the “Sleep” button to activate the “Clear” function. To insert a number in the program, use the cursor buttons to highlight the desired location. Press the number buttons of the number to be inserted. The new number is inserted before the[...]

Programs for DVDs may be saved to memory. The DX-7 can memorize the programs on up to 24 DVDs. When in the “Program” menu, use the cursor buttons to highlight the “Program Memory” menu item. Select the “On” setting and then press the “Select” button to activate the “Enter” function to save the program in memory. When more than 2[...]

the disc is reloaded, the “ LAST ” indicator will again light. To begin play at the memorized location, press “Last” on the remote control while the disc is stopped. Nearly all DVDs will automatically begin playing when loaded. Be sure to press the “Stop” button before pressing the “Last” button. Pressing “Play” will begin playb[...]

• OSD To memorize the current settings, press the “Input” button on the remote control while the DVD is playing. Please note that the “Input” button on the remote control corresponds to the “Condition Memory” function on the DX-7. The next time the disc is loaded, “ COND ” appears in the front panel display and “Condition Memory[...]

Display Function The “Display” function will show information about the currently loaded disc on the on-screen display. Please note that the “Info” button on the remote control corresponds to the “Display” function on the DX-7. When a DVD is playing, pressing the “Info” button to activate the “Display” function will scroll throu[...]

When a CD is playing, pressing the “Info” button will scroll through two different information displays. • The first screen shows the track number, the track time, the remaining track time, and the total track time. • The second screen shows the track number, the total number of tracks, the track time, the remaining time of the CD, and the [...]

either produces no action or duplicates the “Menu” function. Please note that the “Guide” button on the remote control corresponds to the “Top Menu” function on the DX-7. Angle The DVD format allows for scenes to be filmed from multiple camera angles. The viewer may select between the different available camera angles by pressing the ?[...]

On-Screen Setup Menus The Ayre DX-7 has on-screen setup menus that allow you to adjust a variety of system settings to ensure compatibility with your system. The basic menu items have normally already been set up by using the Setup Navigator (see page 11). Following is information regarding the more detailed items. To access these on-screen setup m[...]

Indicator Colors Next to each option in the on-screen setup menus is a colored indicator that shows which setting is currently selected. The color of this indicator corresponds to which types of discs are affected by each particular menu option. • Blue DVD only • Yellow DVD and Video CD • Green All formats If a setting applicable only to DVDs[...]

Dolby Digital Nearly all DVDs have a Dolby Digital soundtrack (and optionally others as well). If your audio processor accepts Dolby Digital signals, set this option to “Dolby Digital”. The audio processor will decode the Dolby Digital signal to recreate the soundtrack. If your audio processor does not accept Dolby Digital signals, set this opt[...]

The choice of which soundtrack is played can be made either via the main menu of the DVD itself, or by scrolling through the soundtrack choices using the “Audio” button on the remote control (page 24). This setting only affects the “Compressed + PCM” output. If a DTS soundtrack is selected, no signal will be present at the “PCM Only” ou[...]

This setting only affects the “Compressed + PCM” output. The “PCM Only” output will always convert an MPEG audio soundtrack to two-channel PCM. Digital Output The digital audio output may be turned off for diagnostic purposes. It is normally recommended to set this option to “On”. This setting affects both the “Compressed + PCM” out[...]

Video The on-screen setup menu items listed under the “Video” tab configure the Ayre DX-7 so that the video output will match the capabilities of your video display. TV Screen It is extremely important to select the “TV Screen” setting that matches your display device. DVDs are manufactured with two different aspect ratios for the picture i[...]

display is a standard model, configure this setting to “4:3 (Letterbox)”. It is recommended not to select the “4:3 (Pan & Scan” setting, as this only functions properly when allowed by the DVD. To date there are virtually no widescreen DVDs that support the “Pan & Scan” setting. Picture Quality This setting has no effect on the [...]

Still Picture This setting affects the appearance of the picture when the DVD is paused. Normally this should be set to “Auto”. The DVD player then uses information on the disc to determine if it was made with an interlaced source (i.e., video) or a progressive source (i.e., film) However some discs are incorrectly flagged, causing the appearan[...]

Angle Indicator A few DVDs will have certain scenes filmed from multiple camera angles. In this situation, an icon in the shape of a movie camera will be displayed on both the front panel display and on your video display. This will inform you that multiple viewing angles are available. Should you wish to turn off the on-screen angle indicator, cha[...]

Audio Language Many DVDs offer multiple language options for the soundtrack. You can specify the desired default language setting for the audio soundtrack. If that soundtrack exists on a DVD, it will automatically be selected for play. In units shipped to most countries, the choices include “English”, “French”, “Spanish”, and “Other?[...]

Regardless of the status of this setting, you can scroll through the available subtitle choices using the “Subtitle” button on the remote control. If the “Other” setting has been selected, you will have the choice of entering the desired language from either by scrolling through a list of abbreviations (and also complete names for the more [...]

“Japanese”, and “Other”. Setting this option to “w/Subtitle Language” automatically assigns the language selected in the Subtitle Language setting. This is recommended for most situations. If the “Other” setting has been selected, you will have the choice of entering the desired language from either by scrolling through a list of ab[...]

Subtitle Off The DVD format allows the disc itself to issue commands to the DVD player. Rarely, a disc may automatically display subtitles even when they have been turned off at the DVD player. This setting allows you to select the language of the subtitles that are displayed with this type of DVD. Select “With Audio” to display the subtitles i[...]

Setup Navigator The Setup Navigator simplifies the process of configuring the on-screen menu settings of the Ayre DX-7. This process in normally performed when the DVD player is installed in your system. However, any time you wish you may run the Setup Navigator again. Normally this is done only when new equipment has been installed in your system,[...]

Background Color You can select which color appears on your video display when the DVD player is in “Stop” mode. The choices are “Blue” and “Black”. Display Firmware Revision The firmware revision and current region setting may be displayed using a hidden on-screen setup menu item. In the “Setup Menu Mode”, change the setting to “[...]

Frequently Used Languages Chinese (zh), 2608 Dutch (nl), 1412 English (en), 0514 French (fr), 0618 German (de), 0405 Greek (el), 0512 Italian (it), 0920 Japanese (ja), 1001 Korean (ko), 1115 Portuguese (pt), 1620 Russian (ru), 1821 Spanish (es), 0519 Swedish (sv), 1922 Complete Language List Abkhazian (ab), 0102 Afar (aa), 0101 Afrikaans (af), 0106[...]

Corsican (co), 0315 Croatian (hr), 0818 Czech (cs), 0319 Danish (da), 0401 Dutch (nl), 1412 English (en), 0514 Esperanto (eo), 0515 Estonian (et), 0520 Faroese (fo), 0615 Fiji (fj), 0610 Finnish (fi), 0609 French (fr), 0618 Frisian (fy), 0625 Galician (gl), 0712 Georgian (ka), 1101 German (de), 0405 Greek (el), 0512 Greenlandic (kl), 1112 Guarani ([...]

Lingala (ln), 1214 Lithuanian (lt), 1220 Latvian (lv), 1222 Macedonian (mk), 1311 Malagasy (mg), 1307 Malay (ms), 1319 Malayalam (ml), 1312 Maltese (mt), 1320 Maori (mi), 1309 Marathi (mr), 1318 Moldavian (mo), 1315 Mongolian (mn), 1314 Nauru (na), 1401 Nepali (ne), 1405 Norwegian (no), 1415 Occitan (oc), 1503 Oriya (or), 1518 Oromo (om), 1513 Panj[...]

Sundanese (su), 1921 Swahili (sw), 1923 Swedish (sv), 1922 Tagalog (tl), 2012 Tajik (tg), 2007 Tamil (ta), 2001 Tatar (tt), 2020 Telugu (te), 2005 Thai (th), 2008 Tibetan (bo), 0215 Tigrinya (ti), 2009 Tonga (to), 2015 Tsonga (ts), 2019 Turkish (tr), 2018 Turkmen (tk), 2011 Twi (tw), 2023 Ukrainian (uk), 2111 Urdu (ur), 2118 Uzbek (uz), 2126 Vietna[...]

Numbers and Specifications DVI Output Selectable output formats: RGB, video levels (16 - 235) RGB, PC levels (0 - 255) YCbCr, 4:2:2, video levels (16 - 235) (NTSC and PAL discs) Progressive Component Output Selectable output formats: YPbPr, 700 mV, 0% setup RGB, 700 mV, 0% setup (NTSC and PAL discs) Interlaced Component Output Selectable output for[...]

RGB, 700 mV, 0% setup (PAL discs) S-Video and Composite Outputs Selectable output formats: 714 mV, 7.5% setup 714 mV, 0% setup (NTSC discs) 700 mV, 0% setup (PAL discs) Power Consumption 35 watts 20 watts, standby mode Dimensions 17-¼" W x 13-¾" D x 4-¾" H 44 cm x 35 cm x 12 cm Weight 15 pounds 6.8 kg 69[...]

Statement of Warranty Please take a moment to fill out and return the enclosed warranty registration card. Your Ayre DX-7 DVD player is warranted against defects in workmanship and materials for a period of five years from the date of purchase, except for the transport mechanism. The warranty period for the transport mechanism is two years from the[...]

or to Ayre’s authorized agent. 3. Ayre reserves the right to inspect any product that is the subject of any warranty claim prior to repairing or replacing it. Final determination of warranty coverage lies solely with Ayre. Out-of-warranty claims will be billed for labor, materials, return freight, and insurance as required. Any product for which [...]

6. Ayre does not authorize any third party, including any dealer or sales representative to assume any liability of Ayre or make any warranty for Ayre. The unit must not have been altered or improperly serviced. The serial number on the unit must not have been altered or removed. 7. Warranty registration cards must be completed and mailed to Ayre w[...]

A Technical Glossary 480i A shorthand way of referring to an interlaced NTSC signal, where “480” refers to the number of actual picture lines and “i” refers to Interlaced . 480p A shorthand way of referring to a progressive NTSC signal, where “480” refers to the number of actual picture lines and “p” refers to Progressive . 576i A s[...]

interconnect cables employing three-pin XLR connectors. Aspect Ratio The ratio of the video display’s width to its height. The two common aspect ratios used for video displays are 16:9 (1.78:1), also known as “widescreen”, and 4:3 (1.33:1), also known as “standard”. CRT The Cathode Ray Tube is the original analog technology used in video [...]

quantity of audio data while attempting to minimize the impact on sound quality. See also Dolby Digital , DTS , and MPEG Audio . D-ILA Digital-Imaging Light Amplifier is a type of LCOS video display technology developed by JVC. This is one example of a Fixed Pixel display. DLP Digital Light Processing is the name of Texas Instrument’s movable mic[...]

performance level. All fixed pixel displays have internal scalers incorporated internally. HDMI The High Definition Multimedia Interface is an extension of the DVI interface that adds HDCP , digital audio, and inter-device communication link, all in a smaller connector. The DVI output of the Ayre DX-7 can be connected to an HDMI display by using an[...]

Pixels to create an image. This is one example of a Fixed Pixel display. LCOS Liquid Crystal On Silicon places the LCD display element directly on the silicon wafer that forms the electronic control circuitry. A transmissive display element cannot be used as the silicon is not transparent. Instead, a reflective display element is used. This is one [...]

Africa, and South America. This format has a total of 625 lines, of which 576 are used for the actual picture information. PCM Pulse Code Modulation is the fundamental method used to store audio or video as digital codes. This is the highest performing method of storing audio, and is the system used on CDs. See also Compressed Audio . Pixel As a di[...]

purchased from that same region. Resolution Every video display device or video format has a maximum number of Pixels that can be displayed. This resolution is specified as the number of horizontal pixels by the number of vertical pixels. The resolution of a DVD is 720x480 for NTSC discs and 720x576 for PAL discs. Scaling must be used to convert th[...]

SoG Sync-on-Green refers to an RGB video connection that has the sync (timing) signals combined with the green signal. Only three wires are required for this connection, compared with five wires for an RGB+HV video connection. S/PDIF The Sony/Philips Digital Interface Format is commonly used to transmit digital audio information from a source (such[...]

YPbPr An analog Component signal, where Y is the brightness (black-and-white) signal, and Pb and Pr are the color signals. 81[...]

A Place for Notes 82[...]

83[...]

84 Rev. 1.0b[...]

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Ayre Acoustics, Inc. 2300-B Central Avenue Boulder, Colorado 80301 www.ayre.com +1-303-442-7300[...]